Spaces In Between is a dreamy, melodic success from Washington, DC-based project Sansyou. A cohesive blend of dream-pop, shoegaze, and alternative shows across the six tracks — with three featuring vocals, and the other three being instrumentals. Kelli Miyahira (of Natto Princess) provides lushly memorable vocals on those tracks, with the lineup also including guitarist David Nicholas and drummer Kellii Scott (Failure).
The EP’s title track opens with a magnetic allure. Wordless vocal serenity and jangling guitar tones intertwine seamlessly, as references to the star, moon, sea, and sky further the contemplative intrigue on “the spaces in between.” Miyahira’s vocals are blissful amidst Nicholas’ calming guitar work and Scott’s steady percussion.
“Due South Pacific” is another standout, weaving the sound of rain with crisp guitar twangs. “Castles in the sky are where you’ll find me,” the vocals let out, continuing the nature-set imagery and sense of calm. Alongside standout instrumentals like the momentum-filled “Every Rung” and meditative finale “Play What You Want to Hear,” Spaces In Between stands as a strongly memorable EP from Sansyou.
The EP is available on cobalt II cassette, 180g clear vinyl, and compact disc formats. An 8-page booklet is also included, with lyrics and additional images supporting the vision of each song.
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“Due South Pacific” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
